Bracelet Making Jewelry Parties
by Gina Rower.
(Ellicott City, MD, USA)
Jewelry Designers!
Just started a Birthday / Bling Fling party business. My first party was this past weekend and it was a huge success.
What a blast to see this group of nine year old girls become creative… little jewelry designers!!! Thanks to the bracelet beading party idea that came from Rena.
However, at the point when it came time to close bracelets, the girls had finished around the same time, it became a little stressful (for me) trying to get past the “Me First” requests.
Also, the time in between closing the first girl till the last girl was empty. The birthday girl’s mom came in and keep the girls busy playing “20 questions” to keep them occupied, however, I felt bad that she had to help out.
My party also offers nail decal (ring finger) and nail painting (clear sparkly) applications… Again, the “me first” came into play.
The girls LOVED the party, the mom thought it was so creative.
I came home and pondered what I can have the girls do while they waited… So, I came up with a craft that will be created while I pull one girl at a time away to close and paint. Hopefully, this will help with the time…
Does anyone have any ideas on what else has worked for them while running parties like this???
Gina Rower
Comments:
Keeping the party-goers occupied
by: Rena
Your party sounds like a huge success! Your jewelry designers look quite talented.
Thanks so much for sharing it with us!
Here are a couple of ideas for other activities the party-goers can do to stay happily busy:
At one of the first bracelet beading parties I did, the birthday girl’s mom set up a limbo dance (using a yardstick held up by a girl at each end), while playing music that was currently popular with the girls.
They had lots of silliness and fun limbo dancing for about half an hour, while burning off some of their excess energy caused by party excitement and too much sugar! :o)
So that might be an activity you could start up while finishing off the girls’ bracelets one at a time.
At another party, nearly all of the girls belonged to the same gymnastics club, and on their own they did handstand contests and cartwheel contests (outdoors). Again a great way for the girls to have fun while burning off some of their excited energy.
Another party activity for girls
by: Rena
I just remembered an activity a friend of mine did for her 4th-grade daughter’s birthday slumber party.
My friend went to the dollar store and the “dollar spot” rack at Target, and bought a couple of multi-colored packs of powdered eye shadow and blush, plus a few multi-packs of lipgloss.
At home she made a mini-makeup kit for each girl, using cupcake papers as disposable makeup containers (making sure each girl had her own makeup kit so no germs were shared).
To create the makeup kits, my friend broke up the powdered eye shadow and blush colors into smaller chunks, and put a little chunk of every color into each cupcake paper – so each girl had a little of every color in her own kit.
Each girl also got a mini mirror and a handful of Q-tips for applicators – and they all had a ball putting on their own makeup.
When their makeup was finished, my friend took pictures of each girl in all her painted glory, and of all the glamour gals together.
Evidently the makeup activity was a big hit and kept the girls busy for a nice stretch of time.
The cupcake-paper makeup holders and Q-tips were easy to throw away for quick cleanup.
This activity could tie-in with your jewelry and nail art as a sort of “glamour” party theme.
And of course you would charge an additional amount for the extra supplies and time involved in creating the makeup kits.
Perhaps you could have that as an add-on activity with an extra fee, for parents who want to include makeup in the jewelry and nail party.
Great Idea
by: Daylene Horn
What a great idea. It sounds like they had loads of fun. Maybe you just sparked the next artist.
Kids don’t get exposed to art enough these day.
Thanks for Sharing
Twisted Stone Designs
….another option
by: Valerie J
I have done parties using the “traditional” beaded bracelet approach, but encountered the same issues with finishing. Then I started using memory wire and I really like it! The girls actually have more wire on which to design their beaded masterpiece and finishing is quick and easy for me. I just loop the end and sometimes I have “dangle” beads prepared so I can just add on to the loop. The girls love their creations and it really simplifies things on my end.
So Far, So Good!
by: Gina Rower
So it has been three weeks since I launched Inspired By You…. Parties booking from parties.. Pulling the girls to the side, one by one, to close and paint while others work on craft (that is actually made for the birthday girl) has worked like a charm!! Last week had a Sweet 16… Had girls actually close themselves… they really LOVED that! Now, approaching Anklet and Necklace beading parties… prices vary on the choice… I LOVE THIS BUSINESS!
Bracelet Birthday Parties
by: Teresa
This type of party is a wonderful idea and one that I am definitely interested in. I would like more specific info if you wouldn’t mind sharing, e.g. price per girl, how you began advertising, etc. Thank you very much.
Email: Terislhasa1@yahoo.com
Another crafty idea
by: Lisa W.
Your parties sound marvelous! You sound creative and flexible, able tor roll with what the girls re able to handle.
It sounds like your craft project is really working out, and I love Rina’s idea of a makeup add-on, while you sit off to the side and close bracelets. Then, maybe some dancing type of activity wheil you do their nails. Talking to each party mom about their daughters favorite activities might help you tailor an activity to the particular girls at the party (eg rina’s limbo and gymnastics ideas).
I did happen to think of a craft idea that might come in handy as well, and the total cost is only a few dollars. Buy 4×6 picture frames at the dollar store, and a variety of plastic beads and glue. Spread out a plastic party tablecloth (dollar store)let the girls decorate their frames with beads while you call them away individually to work on nails. Then, take a party photo of all the girls, with their cool bracelets and nails, and they will go home with a picture perfect frame for their photos! A quick stop at WalMart or someplace similar and the photos are printed without using up anyone’s printer ink. Give them to Mom that week to include with her daughter’s thank-you notes. I think the cost is about $1.50 per girl, make it $2 per girl and the birthday girls is free?
Good luck with your parties, they sound like so much fun!
occuping kids while finishing
by: michelle
It may sound boring but I found asking the girls to return their leftover beads to the right compartments keeps them occupied and also makes packing away easier for you.You could bring along some special pendant beads (a swrovski heart or butterfly as a prize to the girl who finishes first.
Box It Up
by: Anna Maria
As each girl finishes her bracelet she can make a “jewelry box” for it,instead of using a pouch. Many sites have boxes that already have cotton or batting inside. They are not expensive and can be purchases in large quantities.(riogrande.com)
There are many was to decorate the tops…
.fabric
.paint pens
.yarn designs
.wrapping paper collage
.sticker collage
.foam dyecuts (the big tub from Michael’s)
.magazine pictures (collage) This one can
take time. Have some pictures already cut
such as jewelry,flowers,etc.
Wonderful Party info…..
by: Cynthia Gilbert
Hi, I’ve been unluckly in my jewelry sales lately and have been reading on Rena Klingenberg’s site and found what I think would be so much fun and wonderful idea of having Birthday parties with beads. My sister mentioned to me once but I was reluctant to try. I didn’t know how and certanily didn’t have enough time or supplies. But now that I have researched things I am impressed with all the info I have found. I am considering trying this route and see how it goes. If all goes well I will send pictures and more info of things.
Thanks Rena Klingenberg for your website and information. 🙂
Give it a try!
by: Rena
Cynthia, thanks so much for your lovely comment!
Yes, give it a try – there are lots of girls from age 7 or 8 on up through teens who would LOVE to have a jewelry-making birthday party with their friends. And the fun is contagious – you’ll have a good time too!
And as Gina said, you’ll likely get more parties booked from every party you do.
What supplies do I need ?…..
by: Cynthia Gilbert
Hi, I love the ideas of a Birthday Beading Party for girls. I am excited about trying to start this trend. Although I have a problem. I am wondering what supplies I need. I know I need bracelet or necklace materials, beads and those things.
I just wanna be prepared for the best party for the girls. I also wanna be sure I have enough supplies. Please help. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.
Again Thanks for such a wonderful website. It has helped me greatly. 🙂
Cynthia – what to bring to your bracelet parties
by: Rena
In Birthday Bracelet Beading Party I detail what I bring and how I run my bracelet birthday parties. I hope this helps!
And I hope you’ll let us know how your first party goes – we’d love to hear about it!
regarding what to do when you need to put on the end clasp..
by: Sherri
I have all the girls when they are finished which is usually about the same time to go open gifts or do the refreshments while I am finishing, then place the flyers, finished product, where they were sitting so that when they are finished with cake ice cream and gifts I am done and their items is complete as well.
